17/09/2022
EXE HAMMER 2022 INFORMATION
If you are competing in this years event you should have received an email as below.....please read!
Exe Hammer tomorrow! Sunday 18th Sept. We hope you're all excited.The weather forecast is looking better than ever (those of you that have paddled before know what we mean!) There is quite a lot of information within this email and slight changes to past emails so disregard anything else and give this a read and ask if you have any questions. Please also read the 2022 Exe Hammer Paddle Rules. These must be followed if you are to participate in the event.
IMPORTANT TIMINGS
From 09:30 - 11.15 Registration @ Topsham Quay (EX3 0JB)
11:30 - Briefing
12:00- 1st Possible Start
13:30 onwards - Chunk of Devon Pasties + Hanlon Brewery and Salcombe Gin drinks bar + Afternoon session @ hangtime cafe with DJ
Approximately 15:00 - Prize Givings
Logistics
This is a one way race from Topsham Quay to Sideshore on Exmouth Beach. You should allow time to prepare/move vehicles if necessary and we recommend the following methodology if a solo entrant driving.
-Drive to Topsham Quay with your SUP (EX3 0JB) and drop off your board, paddle and as much of your race equipment as possible with the Edge team in the designated kit area
-Drive to Exmouth and park your vehicle in one of the following car parks:
Parking Options
Sideshore car park (directly behind the store) - convenient but expensive
Queen's Drive car park (the other side of the road from sideshore - EX8 2AY) - £6 all day
Exmouth Cricket club (the other side of the road from sideshore - EX8 2AY) - £5 all day - still not sure if they will be open this weekend.
Other seafront parking is available all along the seafront
-Either walk to Exmouth train station and take the train to Topsham or get one of a number of buses to Topsham
-Walk to Topsham quay for registration
You can then complete the race and your vehicle will be ready for you when you choose to leave. Of course if you have people with you that are not racing, they can simplify things for you by taking your vehicle for you.
Should you wish to bring a bag with you to Topsham that you wish to keep dry, we will be able to take it from Topsham to the finish line for you. Please keep this fairly minimal.
If you are hiring a board from us this will be ready and waiting for you at Topsham Quay - please communicate this with us before.
Registrations - There will be tables setup at Topsham Quay for registration. Please register as soon as possible to collect race bibs, ensure use of pfd and to assign race number for race time recording. Remember to bring your buoyancy aid/pfd to the table to collect your rash vest
STARTING SEQUENCE - approx 12:00
2 flags (red & red/white) raised & horn - 5 minutes before start
red/white flag lowered, red flag remain & horn - 1 minute before start
Remaining Red flag lowered & horn - START
The start line will be identified during the event briefing & all paddlers of all categories will start together
Other possible notifications during starting sequence
Black and white checkered flag and 5 blasts of horn- Start postponed. Await restart of above sequence.
No flag and continuous horn blasts for 30 seconds - return to shore
COURSE
Review the chart attached in combination with google maps on satellite view to help you familiarise yourself with the river Exe as best as possible. The paddle will start in front of Topsham Quay, paddlers will go through the start line and follow a MANDATORY channel course until buoy 20(after buoy 20 they can take any route down the river as there are no further mandatory checkpoints or buoys until the finish line), out of the river mouth (paying careful attention to the dock entrance - see notes below) and along the seafront to the finish line on Exmouth beach in front of sideshore. See the course marked on the chart attached.
There will be a lead boat (red boat ‘3 Gs’) which will cruise ahead of the fleet demonstrating the course at least until buoy 20.
Finish Line - The finish line will be on the beach, you will arrive at the shore, exit the water and go through the finish line with your board to complete the race (shouting your number as you do so to ensure your result is registered correctly). You should then clear you and your board of the finish line to make room for further competitors.
DOCK ENTRANCE
Riders must leave at least 50m clear between themselves and the dock entrance
Riders must leave at least 25m from any moving vessel they encounter on the river and always aim to paddle to the stern of the vessel
Be particularly aware of vessels entering and exiting the dock entrance. If a vessel is in sight when you are within 100m of the dock entrance you MUST allow them to enter/exit safely before continuing past the dock and you must do so behind the vessel entering/exiting the dock
Particular attention should be given to the Starcross Ferry which will enter/exit at some stage during the event. Its departure from the dock is easily identified prior to visual line of sight by 3 blasts of the horn.
DAWLISH WARREN - Please note dawlish warren marked on the diagram. You must not land on dawlish warren at any point during the event to comply with local bylaws.
EXMOUTH WILDLIFE REFUGE - There is to be no paddling in the Exmouth Wildlife Refuge as marked on the chart. On the water this area is marked by a line of yellow buoys. It is the east bank of the river starting south of Lympstone down to the duckpond in Exmouth along the east of the bank. There is little reason to paddle in this area as part of this event anyway as you’d be paddling a very inefficient course!!
Toilets/Changing Rooms - There are toilets on Topsham Quay and we have our mens and womens toilets and changing rooms at sideshore which can be used during the event and have their own entrance located to the right of our shop entrance.
We recommend taking a phone in a waterproof case with you for the race and saving our shop number in it in case of unexpected retirement or any other need to contact us. 01395 222551
Buoyancy Aids/PFD - Buoyancy aid/PFD or equivalent are required for this event.Please be aware that the following was a stipulation from the local authorities and we sympathise with any concerns competing with a BA/PFD if this is not normally the case for you. We are happy for you to use a buoyancy aid, an impact vest with floatation, a life jacket or a waist belt PFD (palm glide or similar for example). You will be required to bring your BA or equivalent to the registration table in order to receive your event bib so please don't forget it.
Leashes - Quick release board leashes are prefered for this event. If you only have a regular ankle/calf board leash you should attach it to your buoyancy aid/pfd close to the waist or shoulders so it is easily removable when close to entanglement risks such as moorings.
Retiring from the race:
Should you need to retire from the race without completing the course, you must inform the organising committee by either informing one of the safety boats or one of the beach marshalls at the start/finish area or calling 01395 222551
Safety
Please review the rules of the event rules document attached.
Prizes - based on current entry numbers prizes will be awarded according to the following categories
14ft Hard Men 1st, 2nd, 3rd Women - 1st, 2nd, 3rd
12ft6 Hard - Men 1st, 2nd, 3rd Women - 1st, 2nd, 3rd
14ft Inflatable - Combined 1st, 2nd,3rd
12ft6 Inflatable - Men 1st, 2nd, 3rd Women - 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Less than 12ft 6 - Men 1st, 2nd, 3rd Women - 1st 2nd 3rd
Youth - 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Any questions between now and then, please do get in touch.
See you tomorrow (Sunday 18th Sept) its going to be a cracker
Thankyou
Edge
Exe Hammer Paddle 2022 Rules/Guidelines
You must not attend the Exe Hammer Paddleboard Challenge should you be in any ill state of health, suffering or have suffered from any COVID-19 symptoms in the last 10 days, have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 10 days.
Attendance of the event briefing on the day is mandatory
It is mandatory that all riders wear a buoyancy aid or PFD or impact vest with buoyancy or similar. Please seek clarification if unsure. This will be required to collect your race bib on the day during registration and must be worn.
Event bibs(rash vests) must be worn at all times during the race and should be worn as the final layer of clothing (over the top of any wetsuit, clothes, buoyancy aids etc) to assist in identifying event participants quickly
Drafting is only permitted behind riders of your class and gender
A quick release paddleboard leash is recommended to be worn at all times whilst on the water
If using an industry standard ankle or calf leash it should be be attached to your buoyancy aid or pfd close to the waist or shoulder in a position where you can easily remove it to reduce entanglement risks during your paddle such as buoys
Inflatable paddleboards must be in good condition, and inflation pressure checked before the race commences
Riders are responsible for supervising other participants, and in the event of a rider being in distress, other participants notify the event organisers in the safety/marshall boats if they are not already aware using signals demonstrated in the event briefing on the day
Riders must know their race number and shout this number when they pass through the finish line
Riders must abide to any race course roundings that may be set by the race committee
Riders must leave at least 50m clear between themselves and the dock entrance
Riders must leave at least 25m from any moving vessel they encounter on the river and always aim to paddle to the stern of the vessel
Be particularly aware of vessels entering and exiting the dock entrance. If a vessel is in sight when you are within 100m of the dock entrance you MUST allow them to enter/exit safely before continuing past the dock and you must do so behind the vessel entering/exiting the dock
Particular attention should be given to the Starcross Ferry which will enter/exit at some stage during the event. Its departure from the dock is easily identified prior to visual line of sight by 3 blasts of the horn.
Participants should be aware of the procedure to seek assistance from event organisers - Stand/kneel upright on the board and wave the arms above the head. This shall be clarified during the event briefing on the day
If you drop out or are not participating then you must inform the event staff that you are no longer paddling. If you are not able to make it to the finish point to inform the event staff, call 01395 222551
EXMOUTH WILDLIFE REFUGE - There is to be no paddling in the Exmouth Wildlife Refuge as marked on the chart. On the water this area is marked by a line of yellow buoys. It is the east bank of the river starting south of Lympstone down to the duckpond in Exmouth along the east of the bank. There is little reason to paddle in this area as part of this event anyway as you’d be paddling a very inefficient course!!
DAWLISH WARREN - Please note dawlish warren marked on the diagram. You must not land on dawlish warren at any point during the event to comply with local bylaws.
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